JPH0310858A - Flat platen support mechanism of thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove irregularity in printing by raising adhesion of a head to a flat platen and besides, to prevent noise of the flat platen due to vibration while printing is on standby by a method wherein a frame to which the flat platen is free fine movably fitted, an elastic member which supports the flat platen at a point from the rear, and a support which supports the elastic member, are established. CONSTITUTION:A flat platen 5, wherein a platen rubber 6 is stuck, to its surface is fitted to a frame 7 in a state in which a hole 8 provided to a frame 7 has play. Further, the flat platen 5 is supported free slidably axially with a support 11 fixed to left and right frames in a state in which a spring 10 is placed in a shaft of a support piece 9 supporting the flat platen 5 at a point from the rear. When a head 1 is energized in the arrow 12 direction in order to perform printing, the flat platen 5 is slightly moved so as to follow a surface of the head 1, and is rotated. Further, in the case of a state of standby for printing, the flat platen 5 is energized in the arrow 13 direction with the spring 10, space between the flat platen and the frame hole 8 is kept so as to be free from any play.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer having a flat platen, and more particularly to a support mechanism for the flat platen.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional flat platen support mechanism is shown in FIGS. 3 through 5.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the flat platen 5 is rotatably supported around a bin 16 attached to the frame 7. In Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 showing the cross section of Fig. 4,
Since the flat platen 5 has a greater degree of freedom with respect to the frame 7, the protrusion of the flat platen is supported with a play in the hole 8, which is larger than the protrusion provided on the frame 7, and A support member 17 is arranged at the rear, which is fixed to the left and right frames and has a structure to support the flat platen at points.

[Problems that the invention helps solve]

In the conventional flat platen support mechanism described above, in the case of Figure 3, the fulcrum of the head support and the fulcrum of the flat platen are different, so if the gap between the head and the flat platen changes depending on the paper thickness, etc., the head and the flat platen will come into close contact with each other. If this is not the case, there is a drawback that there will be a difference in shading between the top and bottom of the print. In the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, although the close contact between the head and the flat platen has been improved, there is a drawback that noise is generated due to damage due to the large backlash between the frame and the flat platen.

[Means to solve all problems]

The flat platen support mechanism of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention includes: attaching the flat platen to the frame with some play; supporting the flat platen from the rear at points with a springy member; and holding the springy member with a holder. There is.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1. The head 1 is held by a head support 2, and the head support 2 is rotatably supported by a shaft 4 on a carrier frame 3. The flat platen 5 has a platen rubber 6 adhered to its surface and is attached to a hole 8 provided in a frame 7 with some play.

In addition, a spring 10"ft is incorporated in the shaft of a support piece 9 that supports the flat platen 5 from behind at a point, and is held slidably in the axial direction by a holder 11 fixed to the left and right frames. .

I will explain the operation shortly.

When the head 1 is urged in the direction of arrow 12 to perform printing, the flat platen 5 moves slightly and rotates two revolutions so as to follow the surface of the head 10. In addition, in the standby state for printing, the flat platen 5 is urged in the direction of the arrow 13 by the spring 10, and the space between the flat platen 5 and the frame hole 8 is maintained so that there is no play.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides a method for attaching a flat platen to a frame with play, a member having spring properties from the rear of the flat platen metal and supporting at a point, and a support member supporting the member. With this configuration, the flat platen responds to any movement of the head, increases the adhesion between the head and the flat platen, and has the effect of eliminating printing irregularities such as differences in upper and lower printing shading. ′! In addition, there is an effect of eliminating noise tt' generated from the flat platen due to vibration during printing standby.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the flat platen support mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view of a conventional flat platen support mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a side view of another conventional flat platen support mechanism. The side view, FIG. 5, is a sectional view of FIG. 4. l...head, 2...head support, 3...carrier frame, 4...shaft, 5...flat platen, 6...platen rubber 7...frame, 8...
・Frame hole, 9...Support piece, 10...
Spring, 11... Holder, 12... Head moving direction during printing, 13... Flat platen moving direction by spring 10, 14... Ink ribbon, 15... Paper, 16... Bin, 17...Supporting material

Claims (1)

[Claims] A flat platen support mechanism for a thermal transfer printer, comprising a frame for finely movably mounting a flat platen for a thermal transfer printer, an elastic member for supporting the flat platen at a point from behind, and a holder for holding the elastic member.